Program Directors

Program Director Christine Nembhard, MBBS, FACS, FASCRS
Photo of Dr. Christine Nembhard wearing a white lab Howard University coat that also says 'Christine Nembhard, MBBS, FACS, FASCRS Colon and Rectal Surgery'. She smiles with her arms crossed against a dark gray background.

Education

  • Fellowship: Colon and Rectal Surgery, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, PA
  • Residency: Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC
  • Medical School: University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
     

Biography

Dr. Christine Nembhard is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the General Surgery Residency Program at Howard University College of Medicine. She is a double board-certified Colon and Rectal surgeon who earned her medical degree with honors from the University of the West Indies, completed general surgery residency at Howard University Hospital and Colon and Rectal surgery fellowship training at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. She was recruited back to Howard University in 2020 where she also served as the Surgical Simulation Education Director. She performs a full spectrum of benign and malignant colorectal surgery, often via a minimally invasive robotic, laparoscopic, or endoscopic approach. Dr. Nembhard's career reflects a strong commitment to surgical education, health equity research, and advancing the pipeline of surgical trainees through her scholarship, and dedicated mentorship.

Associate Program Director Valentine Nofong, MD, FACS
Valentine Nofong smiling and wearing a dark blue suit with a red tie and white shirt against a pale gray background.

Education

  • Fellowship: Surgical Critical Care, University of Florida Health Jacksonville, FL
  • Residency: Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC
  • Medical School: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital

Biography

Valentine Nofong, MD, is a board-certified surgeon, educator, and surgical critical care physician serving as Assistant Professor of Surgery at Howard University College of Medicine, where he is Medical Director of Surgical Critical Care and Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) and Associate Program Director of the General Surgery Residency Program. Originally trained in Ghana at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Nofong continued his surgical training at Howard University and completed fellowship training in Surgical Critical Care at UF Health Jacksonville, developing expertise in general surgery, trauma, critical care, and ECLS. He is passionate about delivering compassionate, evidence-based care to critically ill patients and their families while mentoring and inspiring the next generation of surgeons. His commitment to patient care, education, and leadership has been recognized through multiple honors, including the Howard University Hospital Medical Staff Resident Patient Care Award, Department of Surgery Star Performer Award, and GME Certificate of Excellence in Leadership.